adjutant bird - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com adjutant bird n large Indian stork with a military gait Synonyms: large mostly Old World wading birds typically having white-and-black plumage Word Family Usage Examples Sign up, it's free! Whether you're a student, an educator, or a life-long learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. Family Ciconiidae - Storks FAMILY CICONIIDAE Wood Storks, Openbills and Storks The Family Ciconiidae belongs to the Order Ciconiiformes, and includes 19 species within six different genera. Medium-sized to large wading birds, they have long bill, neck and legs, indicating their preference for wet habitats, even if some of them frequent mainly grassy or forested areas. All species have almost similar appearance with relatively heavy and large body. The largest member of the family, the Marabou (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) is about 152 cm tall and can weight 8-9 Kg. For comparison, the Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii) only measures 75-80 cm and weights 1-3 Kg.

Marabou Both sexes have similar plumage, but the male is usually slightly larger than the female. They usually are black and white with some variations such as the Painted Stork and the Yellow-billed Stork with the wings showing pinkish feathers. Marabou There are variable shapes according to the feeding behaviour. The seven birds of genus Ciconia have medium to large bill, fairly pointed and straight. This tool is well adapted for the different kinds of preys taken in varied types of habitats. Some of them show bare skin on the face, or broad bright eye-ring. Black Stork The two members of genus Ephippiorhynchus and that of Jabiru have longer bills, pointed and slightly upturned, adapted for jabbing at fish in shallow water. The Jabiru has the largest of the three species. Head and neck are covered with bare black skin, with bright red collar at neck base. Jabiru The Saddlebill has bright coloured bill with red and black mandibles and yellow shield at upper bill base. The Black-necked Stork male has dark brown iris, whereas female has yellow eyes, which is unique among storks where male and female are always similar.

Black-necked Stork The three “giant” storks of genus Leptoptilos have huge bill, used as weapon to kill larger preys. The Marabou is known for killing and eating adult and young flamingos. Face and neck are not feathered and covered with reddish bare skin. Painted Stork The two members of genus Anastomus share the most unusual bill. An opening between the mandibles gives it deformed appearance. But this type of beak is a good tool for the restricted diet of these birds, the apple snails of genus Pila. The open bill shows a hollow in the lower mandible, a wide gap of several centimetres, allowing the bird to grip the shell of the snail. The tips are joined. African Openbill All species have long legs allowing them to forage in shallow water where they live and feed. They prefer and frequent several types of wetlands, but some species such as the Marabou which often scavenges around for carcasses in dry savannahs, and the Abdim’s Stork which is frequently seen in dry grasslands does not necessarily need water all year round.

Abdim’s Stork However, these large birds often nest in trees and need at least some thickets or scattered trees in their preferred habitats, but the European White Stork can also nest on roofs of buildings, as the Abdim’s Stork which makes the nest in the roofs of native huts, but also on rocky islands and in dry uplands. Abdim’s Stork Other species such as the Yellow-billed Stork in West Africa and the Painted Stork in parts of India may nest sometimes in towns. The Black Stork nests in fairly dense forest, or on cliff ledges in Spain, close to the Griffon Vultures and the Egyptian Vultures . African Openbill The other members of Ciconiidae have more generalized feeding methods. They are opportunists, taking all available food at any time such as small fish, amphibians, snakes, small mammals and insects. However, the Abdim’s Stork can be classified as specialist feeder, eating a high proportion of insects, often at grass fires or around swarms of locusts, like the European White Stork in its wintering grounds in Africa. They forage by walking slowly in shallow water or dry grassland, and looking out for food.

When the prey is located by sight, the neck is stretched before to jab and grasp the prey with the bill. European White Stork The Black-necked Stork , the Saddlebill and the Jabiru have similar feeding habits, but the Jabiru is also known to take young alligators, snakes and turtles. These species forage in shallow water, but also in grassland or open woodland. They usually feed alone or in pairs, but the Jabiru can be seen with other Ciconiiformes or several birds feeding by walking side to side in communal fishing. Jabiru The Greater Adjutant and the Marabou have different feeding behaviour, and take mainly carrion, feeding on dead animals and obtaining waste food and refuse from humans. But they also feed like the other storks, taking fish, amphibians and crustaceans. The Marabou is a predator for the flamingos, taking as well eggs and chicks as adults which may be killed. Lesser Adjutant The feeding behaviour of the Ciconiidae is relatively similar for all the species, with some variations according to the bill’s shape and the range.

Several species are colonial breeders, with loose or dense colonies which can range from 5-15 pairs in Maguari Storks, to several thousands in Abdim’s Stork and members of Leptoptilos, Mycteria and Anastomus genera. Other species breed in mixed colonies with pelicans and Ardeidae species. But these same species can also be solitary nesters. Some species such as the members of genera Jabiru and Ephippiorhynchus, and the Black Stork , the Wooly-necked Stork and the Storm’s Stork are exclusively solitary nesters. Black Stork The breeding period is seasonal in all species, and closely related to water which involves food availability. Most species nest in trees, often at good height. The birds tend to reuse the same nest-site for successive years. Marabous can use the same colony for over 50 years. Black-necked Stork Usually, the male arrives first and starts to defend the small territory. In Maguari Storks , the defence is very strong, and the fights may become violent.

Once the territories are occupied by the males, the females arrive and try to approach, but often receive the same aggression before to appease the selected male. Marabou Various ritual displays occur, such as greeting ceremonies, with the most used and called “Up-down”. When one bird returns to the nest, the other raises and lowers the head, and produces some sounds, usually bill-clattering. This display is also used as threat against intruders. It may be slightly different according to the species. European White Stork Other displays such as the “Advertising sway” with male rocking from one foot to other with head held down between the legs, is performed by the openbills. Several other displays occur in each species, and are used as well on the feeding grounds as at nest-site where all are associated with confirmation of pair-bonds. European White Stork Once the pair is formed, the nest is built or repaired. The birds add new material brought by the male and put in place by the female. The nest is made with sticks, and the cup is sometimes lined with softer material.

European White Stork Some huge nests, such as those of the European White Stork , are used by other species, Passer (sparrows), Sturnus (starlings) and even Coracias (rollers), according to the location. The Jabirus ’ nests also attract several opportunists which help to make the structure more solid by adding mud and other materials. During the nest building, copulation is frequent and often performed on the nest. The eggs are laid within a week after the first copulation, at two days intervals. European White Stork The female lays three to five eggs, even up to seven in the European White Stork . On the other hand, the Saddlebill only lays one single egg. Often oval and creamy-white, the extreme sizes are 84 x 60 mm for 145 grams in Marabou, whereas the Abdim’s Stork has smaller eggs, 54 x 45 mm for 58 grams. Black Stork The incubation is usually shared by both parents and lasts from 25 to 38 days, according to the species.

The chicks are nidicolous, but very soon, they are covered in whitish down, except those of the Maguari Stork which are blackish for better camouflage on the ground. They are fed by both adults by regurgitation into the nest, making the smallest chick able to feed too. European White Stork They fledge at about 50 days in the smaller species, but the Marabou’s chicks need probably up to 100 days. They depend on parents for some weeks and return to the nest to roost at night. They can breed between 3 and 5 years of age. Saddlebill immature Storks are usually silent, but they can produce some vocalizations and noises at the breeding areas. The display “Up-down” is often accompanied with bill clattering. But other sounds can be heard, such as hisses in Mycteria, honk or croak in Anastomus, and squeals and moos in Leptoptilos. Yellow-billed Stork The storks of genus Ciconia utter various whistles, well developed in Black Stork and weaker or rare in European White Stork . However, this species often produces bill-clattering during the displays.

Other storks are more silent, only producing some bill clattering, in courtship or threat displays. The openbills are not able to give sounds due to their open bill. But the Marabou is “highly” vocal, giving moos, whines, whistles, both in courtship and threat displays. Its young are able to produce several kinds of sounds at different ages. Marabou Storks are more or less migratory. The two European species, the White and the Black Storks migrate every year to reach warmer areas in winter. But few storks are really migratory, even if they perform several kinds of movements and local or nomadic dispersions. The local dispersions are associated to the food resources, and some birds have to travel over long distances between the nest-site and the feeding areas. Wood Storks have been observed feeding at about 130 km from their colony. The solitary Saddlebill seems to be sedentary, only moving around in the surroundings for best food. Both openbill species perform regular movements not yet well understood, as the movements of the Oriental White Stork . The Abdim’s Stork is a true tropical migrant, following the rains which provide abundant insects.

Painted Stork The Ciconiidae species occur in all continents except the Antarctic and the most parts of North America. They are more numerous in tropical regions. Due to their presence in several legends and traditions, storks are relatively well protected and loved. However, several threats are mentioned, even if the colonies seem to be large. The Asian Openbill is the victim of its great reproductive success. Within the sanctuary where they breed, the trees where the colonies are established are dying, and going outside these areas expose the birds to several threats and hunting. Some species have suffered human exploitation, with consumption of the chicks after to be fattened. The Milky Stork and the Lesser Adjutant in eastern Sumatra, and the Maguari Stork in Venezuela are threatened. The species currently threatened belong to Asia, and occur in overpopulated regions. The populations of the Greater Adjutant have dramatically decreased due to guerrillas, poaching, hunting, destruction of nesting trees and degradation of the feeding grounds, making the area devastated. Yellow-billed Stork All the species are currently in decline, more or less according to the species. During the migrations through Africa, many birds are killed by hunters.

The intensification of agriculture involves the restriction of the feeding areas, and the level of pollution are increasing, affecting the preferred preys of these birds. In South America, destruction and reconversion of large areas threaten the Maguari Stork in the llanos of Venezuela. Black-necked Stork The main threats are always the same, with habitat loss, destruction of large nesting trees, pollution, intensification of agriculture, poaching, hunting… These birds are very useful as pest control, feeding on insects and rodents, and for some species, cleaning the nature by eating at carcasses. Greater adjutant, Indian Bird Greater adjutant, Indian Bird Subscribe to Free E-Magazine on Reference Greater adjutant is an Indian bird, bears with a scientific name "Leptoptilos dubius" is a member of the stork family, Ciconiidae. Concentration of Greater adjutant Greater adjutant includes the lesser adjutant of Asia and the marabou stork of Africa.

Once found widely across southern Asia, mainly in India but extending east to Borneo, the greater adjutant is now restricted to a much smaller range with only two small breeding populations; one in India with the largest colony in Assam and the other in Cambodia. Populations disperse after the breeding season. Bill of Greater adjutant Greater adjutant has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and a distinctive neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures with which they share the habit of scavenging. They feed mainly on carrion and offal; however, they are opportunistic and will sometimes prey on vertebrates. Structure of Greater adjutant Greater adjutant is a huge bird, standing tall at 145-150 cm. The average length is 136 cm (54 in) and average wingspan is 250 cm. While no weights have been published for wild birds, the greater adjutant is among the largest of living storks, with published measurements overlapping with those of the jabiru, saddle-billed stork. Juvenile greater adjutant storks in captivity weighed from 8 to 11 kg.

For comparison, the heaviest known wild stork was a marabou stork scaling 8.9 kg. The huge bill, which averages 32.2 cm long, is wedge-like and is pale grey with a darker base. The wing chord averages 80.5 cm, the tail 31.8 cm and the tarsus 32.4 cm in length. With the exception of the tarsus length, the standard measurements of the greater adjutant are on average greater than that of other stork species. A white collar ruff at the base of its bare yellow to red-skinned neck gives it a vulture-like appearance. In the breeding season, the pouch and neck become bright orange and the upper thighs of the grey legs turn reddish. Adults have a dark wing that contrasts with light grey secondary coverts. The underside of the body is whitish and the sexes are indistinguishable in the field. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult. The pendant inflatable pouch connects to the air passages and is not connected to the digestive tract.

Concentration of Greater adjutant Greater adjutant was once a widespread winter visitor in the riverine plains of northern India, however their breeding areas were largely unknown for a long time until a very large nesting colony was finally discovered in 1877 at Shwaygheen on the Sittaung River, Pegu, Myanmnar and it was believed that the Indian birds bred there. Breeding Season of Greater adjutant This breeding colony, also included spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis), declined in size and entirely vanished by the 1930s. Subsequently, a nest site in Kaziranga was the only known breeding area until new sites were discovered in Assam, the Tonle Sap Lake and in the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. In 1989, the breeding population in Assam was estimated at about 115 birds and between 1994 and 1996 the population in the Brahmaputra River valley was considered to be about 600. A small colony with about 35 nests was discovered near Bhagalpur District in 2006.

Colonies of Greater adjutant Greater adjutant breeds during winter in colonies that may include other large water birds such as the spot-billed pelican. The nest is a large platform of twigs placed at the end of a near-horizontal branch of a tall tree. Nests are rarely placed in forks and an unobstructed top canopy allows the birds to fly easily from and to the nests. In the Nagaon nesting colony in Assam, tall Alstonia scholaris and Anthocephalus cadamba were favourite nest trees. (Last Updated on : 01/09/2015) Recently Updated Articles in Flora & Fauna • Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam, a north eastern state of India. This national park has been designated as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site. Kaziranga has also been designated as an important Bird Area by BirdLife International. • Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few sanctuaries that has earned popularity amidst the land of Surguja district and even attracts numerous tourists from all over India.

• Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is a famous tourist spot located in Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu. It houses a variety of migratory birds. • Kitam Bird Sanctuary Kitam Bird Sanctuary is situated in South Sikkim district of Sikkim, between two places called Namchi and Melli. It is a hub of the Indian hilly birds and other migratory birds from Siberia and an ideal place for bird and nature lovers. It is recognized as one of the most prominent bird sanctuaries in Sikkim. • Lesser Adjutant - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Lesser Adjutant This is a huge bird, typically 110-120 cm tall, weighing about 5 kg and has a 210 cm wingspan. It is, however, the smallest member of the Leptoptilos genus. Its upper body and wings are black, but the belly and undertail are white. The head and neck are bare like those of a vulture. The pale bill is long and thick. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult. Picture of the Lesser Adjutant has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution .

Original source: Lesser Adjutant StorkUploaded by berichard Author: Elena Gaillard from New York, USA The Lesser Adjutant is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is resident breeder in southern Asia from India east to southern China and Java. This is a huge bird, typically 110-120 cm (43-48 in) tall, weighing about 5 kg (11 lbs) and has a 210 cm (83 in) wingspan. It is, however, the smallest member of the Leptoptilos genus. Its upper body and wings are black, but the belly and undertail are white. More Greater and lesser adjutant storks were once common but began declining in the 20th century due to habitat destruction and poaching. Greater adjutants are now estimated to number only around 1,000; lesser adjutants are more abundant, but still vulnerable to extinction.

WCS is working to save these and other waterbirds in Cambodia’s Northern Plains and at Prek Toal, part of Tonle Sap, which is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and home to huge colonies of storks, as well as a million people. More The lesser adjutant is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1). Description - Once a widespread and common species, the lesser adjutant has undergone a rapid decline in numbers recently, and is now rare throughout its range (3). This very large stork has long legs, neck and beak, and an upright posture. It is dark grey to black on the wings and back, and white on the underside. More lesser adjutant definition = Variant of adjutant adjutant definition ad·ju·tant (aj′ə tənt) noun 1. an assistant 2. Mil. a staff officer who serves as an administrative assistant to the commanding officer 3. More adjutant, the lesser adjutant is glossy metallic black in colour with an ugly featherless head. It stands lower than an adjutant and has a prominent white in the lower portion of the body.

Leptoptilos Javanicus¤ Found In The bird is uncommon in continental India, can be found in Kerala, northeast India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka near the water bodies. Its very shy in nature. Our wildlife photographer Amit had a great problem catching the bird on film. More Aspects of the topic lesser adjutant stork are discussed in the following additional content sources. * Magazines * Bird's-eye view. Crain's New York Business, June 11, 2007 Expand Your Research: Try searching magazines and ebooks for "lesser adjutant stork". No results found. - Type a word or double click on any word to see a definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. More The Lesser Adjutant breeds in wetlands in tropical lowland. It builds a stick nest in trees. It often forms small colonies. The Lesser Adjutant, like most of its relatives, feeds mainly on frogs and large insects, but also young birds, lizards and rodents. It will also eat carrion, for which its bare head and neck is an adaptation. Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.

More Aspects of the topic lesser adjutant stork are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in stork (bird family)) The adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius), or adjutant bird, of India and southeastern Asia, and the lesser adjutant (L. javanicus) are typical scavengers with naked pink skin on the head and neck. More Lesser adjutant at a temporary waterhole© Fletcher & Baylis Lesser adjutant wading© Daniel Heuclin / Lesser adjutant fishing© Daniel Heuclin / Lesser adjutant feeding in water© Joanna Van Gruisen / More Like vultures at a kill, Lesser Adjutants perch on the remains of an abandoned fishing vessel Birdlife The main attraction of Parit Jawa, especially during the October-March migration season, is the birdlife. Though there is a regular traffic of fishing boats winding its way through the muddy channels, and though there are local people going about their business near the jetty the bird fauna seems unperturbed. The most noticeable of the birds are the Lesser Adjutants, by sheer virtue of their size.

More The Lesser Adjutant lives in much broader area, from India to Indonesia, but is not common anywhere. As so many other wetland species, both have greatly suffered from disappearance of their natural habitats. The Greater Adjutant is said to be a shy and retiring bird on remote locations, but is much less so near cities. More The Lesser Adjutant breeds in wetlands in tropical lowland. It builds a stick nest in trees. It often forms small colonies. The Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is resident breeder in southern Asia from India east to southern China and Java. More The Lesser Adjutant is a scruffy looking bird with a large beak, sky blue eyes, a yellow neck and a few scraggly whips’ of hair behind its head. Nevertheless it’s got tons of character and a great bird to photograph. Lesser Adjutant_0490 To get these photos I had to hire a boat from the small fishing village of Parit Jawa situated south of Muar on the west coast of Malaysia.

More Picture of Leptoptilos javanicus above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution . Original source: Brian Gratwicke adjutant stork | bird | Britannica.com Adjutant stork THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Alternative Titles: adjutant bird, Leptoptilos dubius Learn about this topic in these articles: Greater Adjutant - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Greater Adjutant The Greater Adjutant is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia, mainly in India, extending east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two small breeding populations; mainly in Assam and Cambodia. Populations disperse widely after the breeding season. This large stork has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and a distinctive bare neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures with whom they share the habit of scavenging. Although mainly feeding on carrion and offal, they will sometimes prey on vertebrates. They are named for the stiff military gait when walking on the ground.

Large numbers once lived across Asia but have declined to the point of being endangered. The total population in 2008 was estimated at around a thousand. In the 19th Century, they were especially common in the city of Calcutta, where they were referred to as the Calcutta Adjutant, valued for their service as scavengers and used in the logo of the city municipal c Picture of the Greater Adjutant has been licensed under a GFDL Original source: Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here. Author: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Permission: GNU Free Documentation License The Greater Adjutant is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Nesting Ecology of the Greater Adjutant Stork in Assam, India The nesting ecology of the Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), the rarest stork in the world, was studied in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India during 1994-97. About 90% of nests were built on the top of the canopy.

Storks preferred to nest in compact colonies on large, widely branched trees with thin foliage cover and nearby food sources. More The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia, mainly in India, extending east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two small breeding populations; mainly in Assam and Cambodia. Populations disperse widely after the breeding season. This large stork has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and a distinctive bare neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures with whom they share the habit of scavenging. More Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius - In flight Greater Adjutant Photographer : More During the early 1900s, Greater Adjutants were still reported as common in villages. Now they are found as breeding populations mostly only in Assam and Cambodia, totaling perhaps less than one thousand individuals. One point of good news is that a small breeding population has been recently discovered in the state of Bihar, India. But Assam still holds about 80 percent of the world's population.

More Videos and images Greater adjutant standing on branch This huge stork has a naked pink head, a very thick yellow bill and a low-hanging neck pouch. The neck ruff is white and, other than the pale grey leading edge of each wing, the rest of the greater adjutant’s body is dark grey. Juveniles have a ... More Greater adjutant standing on branch Greater adjutant standing on branchPrint factsheet Facts - Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Ciconiiformes Family Ciconiidae Genus Leptoptilos (1) Size Length: 145 – 150 cm (2) More Phaguni, a greater adjutant found its natural home after one month stay as a special guest at the Assam State Zoo. It was released on 21 March after a grand farewell at Dodora village located 15 kms from Guwahati city, the birth place of the bird, by forest officials of the Assam forest department, Conservationists and the local villagers. More The Greater Adjutant breeds in tropical wetlands.

It builds a stick nest in trees and lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 28-30 days to hatching. It often forms small colonies. The Greater Adjutant, like most of its relatives, feeds mainly on frogs and large insects, but also young birds, lizards and rodents. It will also eat carrion (dead animals) , for which its bare head and neck is an adaptation, and will feed in human refuse dumps. More Greater AdjutantThe Adjutant is found throughout the greater part of India, is rare in the South, but extremely common in part of Northern India, and more especially in Bengal and North-eastern India. I never saw it in the Carnatic nor in Malabar; it is occasionally met with in Mysore, and is not rare in Hyderabad, thence becoming more common and abundant northwards. It spreads through Burmah to the Malayan peninsula. More The last remaining major nesting sites for Greater Adjutant lay in Assam and Cambodia; they are all but gone from their previous stronghold of Myanmar. The Lesser Adjutant lives in much broader area, from India to Indonesia, but is not common anywhere.

As so many other wetland species, both have greatly suffered from disappearance of their natural habitats. The Greater Adjutant is said to be a shy and retiring bird on remote locations, but is much less so near cities. More Newly Discovered Greater Adjutant Stork Population Thriving in Bihar - While the Greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius) population of the world is seeing a general decline, a recently discovered population in Bihar has been growing steadily due to effective conservation efforts by Conservation Agencies. More * Greater adjutant stork can grow to six feet tall, with a wingspan of up to eight feet. Lesser adjutant storks grow to four feet tall. * Adjutant storks often live in proximity to human populations, usually to their detriment. A related species, the marabou stork of Africa, is better able to tolerate human disturbance and so is faring better.

More New population of Greater Adjutant stork, worlds rarest, booming in India = 25/06/2008 12:25:34 birds/Adjutant_stork By Sheren Shrestha of the Wildlife Trust of India June 2008: While the world's Greater adjutant stork population is declining, a recently discovered population in Bihar has been growing steadily, says Arvind Mishra, member of the State Wildlife Board. More The Greater Adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia from Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two separate small breeding populations; in Assam and Cambodia. In winter, this species migrates south to Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. More Yathin25 April 2007 @ 09:40 pm The Greater Adjutants of Guwahati There aren't many known places in the world to see this bird. Apparently, it was once very common but now down to a few hundred individuals.

Guwahati, the capital of the North-Eastern state of Assam has one of the best known places to see this mysterious bird - it's garbage dump. The fish market at Ulbari is that place. More Picture of Leptoptilos dubius above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution . Original source: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Author: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Permission: Some rights reserved EDGE :: Bird Species Information © Benjamin Fitzgerald Overview This tall, incredible bird has an almost prehistoric appearance. Adults can reach heights of 150cm and have enormous wingspans of about 250cm. Its large size and long, wedge-like bill gives it an unmistakable appearance. Mistakenly, people thought this species was good at coexisting with humans because of its ability to scavenge for food in urban areas. However, the wetland and woodland habitat the adjutant requires for breeding has been destroyed and degraded at a rapid rate. The global population is estimated at 800 to 1,200 mature individuals. Despite conservation actions, this number is still thought to be declining and the Greater Adjutant is sliding towards extinction.

Urgent Conservation Actions Nest protection schemes must be implemented and pesticide use controlled. Regular monitoring of nesting and feeding sites are needed. Distribution << Previous (EDGE): Titicaca Grebe Next (EDGE): Western Bristlebird >> Fact The name ‘adjutant’ actually refers to a military rank. It was given to this bird on account of its stiff, marching walk. Media from ARKive Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae The Ciconiidae is the only family belonging to the order Ciconiiformes and is comprised of 19 living species, collectively known as the storks. The Greater Adjutant belongs to a genus of three extant species, which also includes the Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus and the Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus. The genus has approximately nine extinct members. The tree below shows the evolutionary relationships between this species and all other birds. The colours of the tree indicate EDGE scores with the red shades indicating the higher priority species; the bright red leaves correspond to the top 100 EDGE bird species. Further information on every species can be found by zooming in to its leaf on the tree.

Description Size: 145–150cm This bird is very large, with an equally impressive wingspan of about 250cm. The thick, wedge-shaped bill is typically over 30cm long and pale-grey in colour. The Greater Adjutant has a large, pendulous gular pouch, which hangs from the base of the neck. The plumage of the body is black, grey and off-white. The bare skin of the head and neck is a dirty yellow or flesh colour. Ecology The Greater Adjutant has a wide and varied diet. It sweeps through water with its huge bill, scooping up fish, crustaceans, amphibians, insects and reptiles. The species is often seen at rubbish dumps or abattoirs where it will search out decaying food and carrion. Its intimidating size enables it to take food off other scavengers. During the breeding season it remains within its wetland habitat. Breeding occurs within the dry season, usually from October to June, when access to fish becomes easier as waterbodies dry up. Colonies form at the beginning of the breeding season. Nests are platform-like structures built from bamboo stems and leaves. They are situated in large trees with few leaves.

A clutch of between two to four eggs is laid, which hatch after 30 days. Individuals then migrate to north India at the beginning of the wet season. Habitat This adjutant prefers wetland habitats, including lakes, swamps, pools and rice fields, so long as plenty of fish are available. In particular, it choses waterbodies that are partially dry or that recede in the dry season, which makes access to prey easier. In India the bird is often found close to urban areas, feeding at rubbish dumps and abattoirs. In Cambodia, breeding sites tend to be flooded forest, dry woodlands with nearby pools, wet grassland or mangroves Distribution The species was formerly found in many southern Asian countries. The population declined rapidly in the 20th century and its range is now restricted to parts of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. Endangered Threats Loss of breeding habitat, such as nesting trees, wetlands and mangroves is the main threat to Greater Adjutant. Wetlands are drained and converted to agriculture or developed for urbanisation. Increased use of chemical pesticides at rubbish dumps in India has led to poisoning of birds.

These dumps are being used less and less for the disposal of organic matter, which is a food source for the Greater Adjutant. In Cambodia, local fishermen who use poison to hunt for fish have contaminated some areas of wetland. Disease may be affecting reproductive success in some regions. The species is looked on by some people as a pest and as a result it may suffer persecution. There have been records of juveniles being caught in nets. Conservation Underway The species has been recorded at several national parks and sanctuaries in Assam, India. Awareness raising programmes have been ongoing in this region since 1992. A nest-protection scheme was implemented in Assam, but this has since halted. In Bihar and parts of Assam, India local communities are protecting the nesting birds. An important breeding colony is situated at Prek Toal, in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cambodia. Wardens have been permanently employed at the reserve since 2001. Egg and chick poaching from waterbirds has been reduced dramatically to almost 5% of original rates. Another small population occurs within a wildlife sanctuary in the north of Cambodia. The Greater Adjutant has featured in materials promoting conservation in Laos and Cambodia.

Conservation Proposed The occurrence of the adjutant in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar needs to be investigated. Further information on the species migratory habits and the threats faced in different regions is needed. Nest-protection schemes need to be employed at breeding sites, particularly those engaging local community members. All the nesting sites should be monitored on a regular basis. Control the use of pesticides at feeding sites. Continue protection in the Tonle Sap Reserve. Legislation to conserve the species in this area needs to be produced. Encourage poachers in Cambodia to take up alternative livelihoods. Reduce mortality of chicks by checking breeding sites and rescuing birds that have fallen from nests. Links Birdlife International species factsheet References Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley (1978). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan 1 (2 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 105–107. BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Leptoptilos dubius.

Downloaded from on 17/07/2013. Choudhury, A. 2000. The birds of Assam. Gibbon Books & WWF-India, Guwahati, India. 240pp. Choudhury, A. 2008. Counting large gatherings of globally threatened Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius. Indian Birds 4(4): 133-135. Clements, T. J., O’Kelly, H. and Sun, V. (2007) Monitoring of Large Waterbirds at Prek Toal, Tonle Sap Great Lake, 2001-2007. Clements, T.J., Garrett, L., Tan, S., Kong, K.S., Pech, B., Thong, S. and Rours, V. (2007) Bird nest protection programme in the Northern Plains 2003-2007 Elliott, A. (1992). Ciconiidae. In Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J.

Handbook of the Birds of the World 1. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 436–465. Hancock, Kushlan and Kahl (1992). Storks, Ibises, and Spoonbills of the World. Academic Press. Mishra, A. and Mandal, J. N. (2009) Discovery of a breeding ground of the Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius and their conservation in the floodlands of Bihar, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 106(2): 190-197. Rahmani, A. R., Narayan, G., and Rosalind, L. (1990). Status of the Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) in the Indian Subcontinent. Colonial Waterbirds, 139-142 Sibley, C. G., and Ahlquist, J. E. (1991) Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution. Yale University Press. Singha, H., Rahmani, A.R., Couller, M.C.

and Javed, S. (2002) Nesting ecology of the greater adjutant stork in Assam, India. Waterbirds, 25(2): 214 - 220. Singha, H. and Rahmani, A. R. (2006) Ecology, population and conservation of Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius in Assam, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103(2-3): 264-269. Singha, H., Goswami, S. K., Phukan, R. and Talukdar, B. K. (2006) Rehabilitation of captive-reared Greater Adjutants Leptoptilos dubius in Assam. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103(2-3): 315-320. Acknowledgements Text compiled by Michelle Harrison. Factchecked by Anwaruddin Choudhury.

if you can provide new information to update this species account or to correct any errors, please email us at info@edgeofexistence.org Forum comments Birding Buddies: Lesser Adjutant General The Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related Greater Adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java. Description A large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pounch, it has a length of (outstretched from bill-to-tail measurement), weigh from and stands about tall. The only confusable species is the Greater Adjutant, but this species is generally smaller and has a straight upper bill edge (culmen), measuring in length, with a paler base and appears slightly trimmer and less hunch-backed. The skullcap is paler and the upper plumage is uniformly dark, appearing almost all black.

The nearly naked head and neck have a few scattered hair-like feathers. The upper shank or tibia is grey rather than pink, the tarsus measures . The belly and undertail are white. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult but have more feathers on the nape. During the breeding season, the face is reddish and the neck is orange. The larger median wing coverts are tipped with copper spots and the inner secondary coverts and tertials have narrow white edging. The wing chord measures in length. Like others in the genus, they retract their necks in flight. In flight, the folded neck can appear like the pouch of the Greater Adjutant. Males and females appear similar in plumage but males tend to be larger and heavier billed. Distribution and habitat The Lesser Adjutant tends to be widely dispersed and is very local. It is often found in large rivers and lakes inside well wooded regions. It is found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia. The largest population is in India in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. It may occur as a vagrant on the southern edge of Bhutan.

They are extremely rare in southern India. Behaviour and ecology The Lesser Adjutant stalks around wetlands feeding mainly on fish, frogs, reptiles and large invertebrates. They rarely feed on carrion. They may also take small birds and rodents particularly during the breeding season. They are solitary except during the breeding season when they form loose colonies. The breeding season is February to May in southern India and November to January in northeastern India. The nest is a large platform of sticks placed on a tall tree. The nest diameter is more than a metre and up to a metre deep. The clutch consists of three to four eggs. They are silent but have been noted to clatter their bill, hiss and moan at the nest.

Question: Adjutant birds are members of which family of birds?
Answer: Storks